Toy block



Y Sept. 27, 1938. A G. R. KREIDER, JR 2,131,349 y TOY BLOCK Filed March 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fai.; ATTORNEY sept.27,193s. l G AR. KREIDERJR' 2,131,349

TOY BLocx 155 11,4 171 1, 15,2* 13)? `11g @gal-i140 A Winn g5 i125 www' 125k 7gIWW' )HILW 1f" l l105 uw Il i MW wu, Hm ,r f rfflamww'" MV I" im A' -,223 2 fm 4214 224 I Y mlmy INVENTOR Patented Sept. 27, 1938 U N l T1 ED S PATENPQIFFIC f This `invention relates to toy" blocks and 133.174 ticularly to a hollowopenend block formdffron paperboard, 'fibreboardor' theflike. A o

Childrens toy blocks, such'- as'arecommonly.,

5T used for Vpurposes of instruetion and entertain? ment, are often formed Virrtheform ofhlliyir cubes or prisms having open ends. Wheresuch blocks are formed from thin pieces of. wood .the blocks are relatively heavyl'andhard andrlae" lqellute expensive to manufacture. Where,itfhas",A been attempted to form blocks of paperboard, flbreb'oard or the like,v they Vhave been too flimsy and destructible and it has been difcultftdmak v them sufficiently rigid and ruggedft'o' withstand; 1; ,the severe usage to'whioh they are `customarily.:y

According to the present`,invent ion, anopen end hollow block of prisrnaticfshapefis onstrdetd with laminatedwallsof novel construotiofwfichi, 2% ,providesthe desired rigidity" The bmckiiricliidelsi ""an outer shell formeelv lromfa paperboa'dlblaikf suitably scored to'provid'e mitered corr''s,the4 ends of the blank being seeuredtogether \(.'-*}11il1;'l able means, such as astrip adhes/ely appliedv tdI 25, the ends to maintain the blankfin Set-up tubular ii'shape. `A liner structure is'disposed in .the's'hellf and includes a U`shaped liner niemberfformed; frbm D21mibf ar-f1` and@ harina.'Sideralleseed?l, 111g over Opposite sideslof weisheit:.aisloaaldil 3il1 a1'11` @015mg erlesene. ofthe Shellgf A Seeeridseed; ""Si-mlar linermember is dipqsed-linthehe11fwith its end panel overlying the rs end panelandits. Side panels. overlying thesecond pair, Oiopmlleg. side walls., Where additional. thskness and; ,.rgiditylof. theend wall4 is desiredifan, end piece is, vinterposed Abetween the end ,panels 4of the liner,y members. 'Ihe liner members are ,securedvintheu shell in a suitablepmanner, aspbyan ladl ie,spiye, and a suitably colored and/or decorated ,wrapper is applied to the block thus formed.`v "Iflieliner blanks may be formed from blanks havingwrap: pers or liners applied to onefaoe thereof `thus dispensing with vthe necessity for wrapping the 45 inside of the block. The blanks forming the shell and liners Yare so formed that, when in position to forni'the block;v the bres or grainof thesde walls 'of the shell extend perpendicular to the bres"or"grain 'of' the liner members,`l` thus providing additional rigidity. In a similarl mannerv theend'ffanels forming theffendwallv are arranged with `their bres perpendicular. Additional rigidity' "alongx the edges of the'blockis provided --by abutting the end Aedges of the side panelsfofconeoffthe liner members against the innerfaces of the sideE pan of theotlierili" inenbrl l Ari Y@eject of the; invntip 'isjhe provision of a childs 'to'y block" formed 'of paperboard, 'flbre` fr", r lfeatures :andiadvantages of theV Y inyentipf W l bfe apparent 'from the"'folloiigringil carried out,5 may bembetter aunderstood by rf'erf Fig. is an exploded perspective view showing the block, with the side cover blank and top cover blank with the blanks in positions which they respectively assume during the wrapping of the block, this view being only illustrative and not necessarily a showing of any particular stage in the wrapping operation; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a set of four blocks formed in accordance with the invention and partially telescoped one within the other.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identied by specic names for convenience, but they are intended to be as v generic in their application as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like partsf in the several gures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specication, certain specic disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

'Ihe block consists essentially of a heavy outer shell of tubular formV and one or more liner members disposed within the shell and serving to close one end of the tubular shell and reinforce the side walls thereof; usually, a Wrapper is applied to the block for improving the attractiveness.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the shell is formed preferably from a single blank 5 of relativelyv heavy material, as for example, paperboard, breboard or the like. The blank may be formed of stock of any desired thickness, but I have found that a stock ranging from about to about 1/8 of an inch suitable for many sizes of blocks. A plurality of relatively deep 90 grooves v or cuts 6, 'I and 8 are formed in the blank and divide it into side panels I, 2, 3 and 4. The end edges 9 and IIJ are beveled at 45 whereby to provide a mitered corner when the blank is set up. Preferably, the sides of the grooves 6, 1 and 8 and the beveled edges 9 and III extend throughout the major portion of the thickness of the blank, butsumcient material is left to provide a flexible connection between the panels, along the grooves 6, 'I and 8. l

The blank 5 is set upto form a tubular shell by bending the sections at right angles about the lines 6, 'I and 8 and bringing the beveled edges 9 and I0 into abutment, as shown particularly in Fig. 6. The abutting edges of the side panels I and 4 are secured in a suitable manner, as for example, by the adhesively attached strip I4,

thereby forming a tubular shell` I5.

Referring Anow to Fig. 3, a liner member a is formed from a rectangular blank, such as paperboard, which preferably generally is of lesser thickness than the shell blank. For example, the liner blank may be approximately one-half the thickness of the shell blank. 'Ihe liner blank is provided with spaced scorelines 2I and 22 which divide the blank into side sections 23 and 25 and an intermediate top or end section 24. The liner blank may be formed of stock which is suitably calenderedv and/or colored on at least one side thereof, but preferably the blank is cut from stock having a wrapper 26 of calendered and/or colored material secured to one face thereof. Y

Preferably, two identicalfliner;'members 20al and Zlibv are provided, for apurposeV which will `ihereinafter appeanthe second` linerv member 20h being shown in Fig. 4.

A top piece 30 (see Fig. 5) is formed from stock. which preferably is similar to the stock forming'4 the liner members 20a and 20h and is similarly provided with a wrapper 3|. The top piece 3U is' dimensioned similarly to the top sections 24 ofthe liner members 20a and 20h.

Referring to Fig. 6, the block is assembled by folding one of the liner members 20a` along the fold lines 2| and 22 With the wrapper 26 on the inner side whereby the liner member assumes a generally U-shaped form. The top piece 30 is then disposed on the bottom panel 24. 'Ihereafter, the liner member 20h is set up in a similar manner to the first liner member 20a and is disposed `on top of the top piece 30 but rotated 90 so that the side panels 23 and 25 are disposed between the space of the side panels 23 and 25 of the rst liner member.

This assembly of liner members 20a and 20h and top piece 30 is then pressed into the set-up tubularV shell` I5 until the top panel 24 of the liner member 20a is ush with the lower edges of the shell I5, the side panels 23 and 25 of the liner members 20a and 20b lying against the inner faces of the panels I, 2, 3 and 4 of the shell I5.

Referring to Fig. '7, it will be seen that the block as thus far assembled has four side walls formed of two-ply material, the total thickness of which is approximately three times the thickness of the liner piece. `The wall which is perpendicular to the side Walls, and designated herein, for convenience, as the top or end wall, is of approximately equal.thickness to the side Walls but'is constituted of three plys of material, namely, the two top panels o-f the liner members 20a and 20h and thetop piece 30. The liner members 20a and 20h and the top piece 30 may be secured in the shell I5 by applying an adhesive to the side panels 23 and 25 preferably before the liner members and top piece are inserted in the shell I5.

Itwill be seen that the side panels 23 and 25 olfA the liner members 20b iit inside of the side panels `23 and 25 of the liner member 2a. Hence, when the liner members are inserted in the shell I5, and secured thereto, there is an interlocking of the liner members at the corners of` theA block and the structure is more rigid than if "the Wallswere merely individually laminated.

4The blanks, employed in forming the liner members 20a and 20h and the blank forming the shell I5, are cut from material in such a way that when the block is assembled, the fibres or grain of the material inthe side panels 23 and 25 of each of the liner members extend or run perpendicular of the fibres or grain in the corresponding panels of the shell I5. Thus, when the block is assembled and the liner members are secured to the shell, an extremely stiff, rigid block is provided. The topwall and side walls are ofV substantially equal thickness and are formed of laminated members having the grain extending in perpendicular directions, hence the wallsL have substantially equal rigidity and are substantially equally rigid both longitudinally and laterally. Thus, the block is not weak in any direction but is capable of withstanding shocks or stresses applied from any direction.

In this connection it will be noted that when the liner members 20a and 20h are assembled, the grain of the end'panel 24 of the liner memberV 20b`extendsperpendicularly to the grain of thecorresponding portion of the liner member 20a. Thus, the top wall of the block likewise arenas-asi.

has increased; rigidity, by: reason. of the perpene dicularity of the fibres. in the;la minations ofthe Wall. 1',

The block preferably is. provided'iwith. a; suit-- able covering or lWrapper. and/or liner which may novel.l formof Wrapper which. has beenA found to. be particularlyeconomical and: desirable. This. Wrapper preferably is formed from`V two: blanks. hereinafter and more fully described.

Although the Wrapper blanks are shown here.-` inwith foldilines andx panels. indicated, itwill be understood that the blanks. preferably; are not creased' or scored priorto being` applied' toi the block and that the indicatedfold linesV andpanels are merely for the purpose of assisting in de-f scribing the manner in which the. Wrapper isA applied to the block. However, if it is desired-` to crease or score the Wrapper, especially .where thewrapper is of relatively heavy stock, this may be done as indicated', but this is not generally necessary.` Y

Referring to- Fig. 8, .aj blank 9 9 is, formed of a generally rectangular strip of paper; which is highly c alendered` or glazed on one side and suitably colored or decorated. The Wrapper blank 901s adapted tobe folded along thelines |05, |05, |01v and |08 to form side panels,| 0,|;, |02, |03. and |04 corresponding in size to the, outer facesV of; the side panels I, 2, 3,; and 4 of the shell; l5;- a lap panel |00 of suitable `Width extends from the panel |0,|. Extending from the side panels; |0,|, |02, |03 and |04v are edge flaps I|2,'|f|,3, and ||4 respectively, whichare foldable about a, line 91- An edeeap l.lf.,extendina from the lap panel |00- is also foldable; about the line 91. A foldv line 98 extends throughout all of the edge4 flaps H0, |||,A I|2,- [|73 and |4 parallel to the line 91.

Cut lines |120, |2 |yr |22 and |23, each having a vertical portion and an inclined portion, separate the respective end edge flaps |I0, ||2, ||3 and I|4. These cut lines are so arranged as to provide ears |32 and |33 extending from the ap I2, ears |34 and |35 extending from the iiapl 3, and an ear |3| extending from the inside edge of the lap panel- ||0.

Referring to Fig. 9, the blank |99 forming the end wrapper includes an end panel 200 having side flaps 2||, 2I2, 2|3 and 2|4 extending fro-m the edges thereof and bendable about score lines 20|, 202, 203 and 204. Extending from the end edges of the side flap 2|2 are tabs 225 and 226 bendable about score lines 22| and 222 respectively, and bendable about the opposite side ap- 2|4 are tabs 221 and 228 bendable about fold line 223 and 224.

Preferably, Wrapper |99 is applied to the blank first, the end panel 200 being placed against the end of the block and the side flaps 2| 2|2, 2|3 and 2 4 folded up and secured to the corresponding sides of the block. Thereafter, the tabs 225, 226, 221 and 228 are folded over and secured.

The Wrapper 99 is then applied to the block by Wrapping it about the block, the fold lines |05, |06, |01 and |08 coinciding With the corners of the block, as indicated in Fig. 10. Thereafter, the edge flaps Ill, ||2, ||3 and |I4 are folded across the adjacent edge of the block and down- Wardly over the corresponding sides, the fold nnesgaliy and 9.8 coiriczidingv withl the. Gutenandi. inner-edges of the side nails re.spenta/.ely:v

It; Willz be, noted that: the. cut lines L20,w |,2|-,Y

|225 and |23-, are., ony such. shape.r that; the. inqlingd portions; coincide withtheV abutting scores in the block blank.

`The edge flaps; |,-,|;2,y anud; |44; are folded doyswzn-` against the corresponding; ini-.1er walls Gif' time being foldedfalong lines- 05,106, |01, |08 and; |29 so as to lie againstthe side. walls |10;| and; I adjacentthe `Walls to which, their corresponding flaps. I l0; I;I,2s andA H4; are attahed- Theotheh edgenaps, IH.; andi ||3 are then. folded donn,l t9; overlie theirl corresponding Walls and; theA ears` |34?, e312, |331, Killy and. I 3.5. The straightiedges. on tneedge flaps. lill and: uit coincidelwithfthe inside cornersof the block. Y

Thej wrappers 99'. and f9.9 maybe glued* mid; applied. by hand. or suitable automatic machinery ina suitable manner,- which Willi be understgnde bythoseskilled: inv the: art.

A set of blocks, s uch as shown. inlig. l;1-J may,l be. constructed` in. the manner above-1 described, each. block being. of sufficient.A size to, permit tele-f4 scopingA therein, of the, n ext smaller block. For example, the block D, ts, inthe block` C', the: block C inthe block B, the block-B; in the largest. block A, thus proyidinga convenient and neat. appearing assembly. Also, this arrangement of; blocks, permits the blocks. to. be` stackedr one. upon. the. other by the child. Y

It will be understood, that althougha4 block O f. Cubioal; form, has .been-shown. and described hereinfor the purposes; of illustrating the invenf, tionlthe invention is not. thnslilnited. By.- suit-. able design of; thel blanks. the side walls. andi/,ortlie, end Walls of the block rimy` take. the; form,- Qf.- rectangles/and; the. block may be. relatively? Short. or relativelylong` in4 any direction. as. de. aired FrQm the foregoing. it. will.; be. seen that.4 the, invention. provides a block which can he. formed. 5159.... Ver 51111121@ aUQQQIlQmQle bllliS.- ILWll; be riet-ed that. the blanks: for forming. the shell and liner members may be of simple rectangular form and thus can be formed with a minimum loss of material. The Wrapper blanks similarly may take substantially the form of rectangles and thus also are very economical. 'I'he block may be formed of relatively inexpensive paperboard or fibreboard, inasmuch as the construc tion is inherently rigid and self-reinforcing.

The structure of the blanks is such that the block may be quickly and easily assembled either manually or With suitable automatic machinery, as will be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art. The'wrappers may also be applied manually or by automatic machinery and are of such construction that they can be applied economically and easily to form a neat and attractive covering for the block.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rigidly nondeformable toy block of generally prismatic shape having a closed end and an open end, said block including a tubular outer shell having connected side wall panels formed panels extending over a pair of opposite side Wall panels and an end of said shell; and a second' liner member formed from paperboard. material tightly tting within said shell and having connected panels extending over another pair of side Wall panels and said end of said shell, means permanently securing said liner members in said shell, and a wrapper adhesively secured to the 'exterior of said outer shell.

2. A- rigid set-up toy block of generally prismaticshape having a closed end and an open end, said block including a tubular outer shell of rectangular cross section having connected sidewall panels formed of paperboard material approximately one-eighth of an inch in thickness, a pair of U-shaped liner members formed of paperboard material of less thickness than the thickness of said outer shell, one of said U- shaped liner members having connected side and end panels extending over a pair of opposite side Wall panels and an end of said shell respectively, andthe other of said U-shaped liner members similar to said first liner member and having its end panel interposed over the end panel of said rst liner member and its side panels extending perpendicular to the side panels of said first liner memberand extending over another pair of side Walls of said shell, a separate end member interposed between the end panels of said liner members, and means securing said liner members in said shell.`

3. A toy block including a rigid prismatic body having connected side Walls,v end Wall and an open end, said body member comprising an outer tubular shell formed from paperboard material having enclosing side Walls and open ends, va U-shaped liner member of paperboard material having al pair of side panels secured to a pair of opposite side walls of said tubular shell and a second U-shaped liner member having opposite side Wall panels secured to another opposite pair of side Walls of said shell, and a Wrapper secured to-said body and including side panels covering member formed from paperboard material tightly fitting Within said shell and having connected the body side walls, and edge L aps extending across the end edges of said body at the open end,

certain of said edge aps having the end edgesv extending diagonally across'the corners-of said end edges and along the inner corners of said side walls and other of said edge flaps having ears underlying said first-named edge ilaps.

4.' A toy block including a rigid prismatic body having connected side Wall, an end wall and anv open end, said body member comprising an outer tubular shell formed from paperboard material having enclosing side Walls and open ends, a U-shaped liner member of paperboard material having a pair of side panels secured to a pair of opposite side Walls of said tubular shell and a second U-shaped liner member having opposite side panels secured to another opposite pair of side walls of said shell, an end Wrapper having an end panel extending over -said end Wall and side anges extending over portions of said side Walls, and a body Wrapper secured to said body and comprising side panels covering the body side' walls and overlying said side flaps, and edge flaps extending across the end edges of said body at the open end, and secured to the inner faces of saidV side walls, certain of said edge flaps having ears underlying other of said edge flaps.

5. A toy block of rigidly non-deformable prismaticlshape having laminated side Walls and a laminated closed end Wall, said block including an outer tubular shell formed from a rectangular paperboard blank and having connected side Walls and open ends, a plurality of liner members each formed from a rectangular paperboard blank andeach having a pair of side panels extending over opposite side Walls of said shell and an end panel extending over the end of said shell, a separate end reinforcing member formed from a rectangular blank and interposed between the end panels of 'saidrlinrer members, and means permanently securingsaid liner members in said shell, the bres or grain of a lamination in each wall being perpendicular to the bres or grain of another lamination in said wall.y

GIDEON R.. KREIDER, JR. 

